Carolina Panthers free agency 2018: Top 5 targets

4. EJ Gaines

James Bradberry and Daryl Worley were picked in the second and third rounds respectively in the 2016 draft and are Carolina’s starting cornerbacks. Both have size and are talented, but both have also shown some growing pains early in their careers.

This isn’t uncommon at the cornerback position and by no means should we write either player off. Captain Munnerlyn is holding on as the Panthers slot cornerback. None of these three played great in 2017. Kevon Seymour and Ladarius Gunter are also in the mix, but adding another player into the equation makes a lot of sense for the Panthers right now.

Gaines is a versatile player that would challenge Bradberry and Worley on the outside as well as Munnerlyn in the slot. That competition and depth is exactly what Carolina needs right now. Gaines is just 25-years-old and can handle zone or man coverage. The Bills picked Gaines up in the Sammy Watkins trade and after performing well in his first season in Buffalo; they might be reluctant to part ways with him.